Super Mario Bros. composer Koji Kondo joins the DICE Hall of Fame
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is honoring Nintendo composer Koji Kondo with a spot in the DICE Hall of Fame. Kondo is known for his work on the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack – which only featured as variations on classic themes in Nintendo and Illumination’s Super Mario Bros. movie – along with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time; Super Mario Galaxy; Zelda: Skyward Sword; and Super Mario 3D World.
The AIAS awards these honors to creators who “demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry.” Double Fine's Tim Schafer, Bethesda's Todd Howard, and Rockstar's Sam Houser also received this recognition in previous years.
“I am deeply thankful for being selected by D.I.C.E. for this important award. It is a true honor to be recognized in this way, and I am extremely humbled,” Kondo said in a statement. “Thanks to the help from the many people surrounding me and the support from our customers and fans, I was fortunate enough to be involved in game music development for decades. I am grateful for everyone who helped and supported me. I will continue my efforts in the music and sound aspects of development to hopefully make everyone’s game experience even more enjoyable in the years to come.”
“Koji Kondo’s musical work is timeless and impactful, spanning multiple generations of fans across the world,” Meggan Scavio, AIAS president, said. “For over 39 years, he has delighted all of us in the industry with sounds and songs that are recognized by so many fans and became a pop culture phenomenon. We are honored to be able to induct Kondo-san into the Hall of Fame.”
The ceremony honoring Kondo will air on Feb. 15, 2024, at 11 p.m. Eastern.
